Banyarwanda comprises the Hutu, Tutsi, and Batwa who speak Kinyarwanda and live in Uganda and along the Rwandan border in Kivu province.
Banyarwanda Family Structure
They lived in homesteads which were characterized by extended families that were patrilineal.
The different clans among the Banyarwanda tended to live together in one locality. Traditionally, a family comprises a man, his wives, and children. Other relatives were also present in the set up making an extended family.
In the case of a polygamous family, each wife had her hut. Other relatives such as grandparents also had their hut in the same compound.
The wife’s family may also live nearby or further, but they still had strong ties with the husband’s kin.
Banyarwanda Clans
Culturally, Rwandans were grouped into different 20 clans namely; Abanyiginya, Abega, Abagesera, Ababanda, Abasinga, Abasindi, Abazigaba, Abashambo, Abongera, Abatsobe, Abungura, Abacyaba, Abahinda, Abashingwe, Abasita, Abarihira, Abakono, and Abenegitore.
However, not all clans were acknowledged. Only major ones were widely known and recognized.
Banyarwanda Totems
Traditionally, the main clans had totems represented by animals, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
They are;
Abanyiginya (Crested Crane, Umusambi)
Abega (Frog, Igikeri)
Abazigaba (Leopard, Ingwe)
Abagesera (Wagtail, Inyamanza)
Abasinga (Eagle, Sakabaka)
Abacyaba (Hyena, Impyisi)
Ababanda (Crow, Igikona)
Banyarwanda Subgroups
There are three subgroups within the Banyarwanda: Hutu, Tutsi, and Batwa.
Banyarwanda Dialects
Kinyarwanda is a unifying Bantu language spoken almost universally. It is closely related to Kirundi (Burundi), Mashi (South Kivu region of Congo), and Kiha (northwestern Tanzania).
Naming System
Children were named publically in a ceremony eight days after their births among the Banyarwanda.
A feast was prepared, and people came together to celebrate. Different people of all ages are allowed to give names to the baby. The mother was given a chance to name the baby, but the father is the last one to name the child.
Banyarwanda Marriage/Courtship
Traditionally, parents would arrange marriages for their children. However, other forms of marriage were also acceptable.
Forced marriages also happened whereby a boy would conspire and abduct a girl by force to become his wife.
Consequently, a girl would sneak away from her parent’s house and go to a boy’s home and gets married.
This happened when a girl becomes pregnant before marriage.
Bride price was important and was in the form of cows and goats. A man would pay an exorbitant bride price if the girl were forced into marrying him. Consequently, if the girl went to the boy’s home by her own will, then the bride price would be less.
On the wedding day, both families celebrated together. Local sorghum and banana beer were served at night as the celebrations went on into the morning hours. Traditional dances were performed by women while men sang.
Polygamy
Polygamy among the Banyarwanda increased a man’s status in the community and his family size. It was acceptable solely if the man could pay the bride price.
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Gender Roles in Marriage
Men did heavy work on the farm, building, and overseeing livestock. The women did the light chores around the household.
They were responsible for the maintenance of the home, raising children, and providing food for the family.
Single Mothers, Widows, and Widowers
Virginity was vital among the Banyarwanda. Bearing children outside marriage was a punishable act.
A pregnant non-married woman was banished from the community or sometimes killed. Widows were inherited to ensure the continuity of the family. Widowers had the option of marrying again for more children.
Divorce
Culturally, divorce was acceptable only on the ground of adultery, gluttony, drunkenness, refusal, or inability to offer conjugal rights, among other undesirable instances.
Elders were responsible for settling the divorce procedures. If the husband is found guilty, he offers a pot of beer and a goat to the woman’s family to redeem his wife.
If the woman was found guilty, she was punished verbally, but no fine was levied against her.
Inheritance
After the death of the family head, who was usually the father, his land and property was traditionally divided between his sons.
The eldest son was expected to take care of his mother and unmarried sisters after his father’s death. Traditionally, women and daughters were prohibited from inheriting land or property.
Death
The Banyarwanda believed that the spirit continued to live after death. They perceived that spirits were present among them, and they appeased them through sacrifices to avoid their wrath.
Rituals were performed during the time of mourning and burial of the deceased. The dead were buried, and mourning periods differed according to age.
Those above eighteen years were mourned for four days. During mourning, there would be no practice of manual labor and sexual relations.
At dawn, on the fourth day of mourning, an heir was installed by a medicine man who performed the required rituals.
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